New Bowers & Wilkins 700 Series speakers use tech trickled from 800 Diamonds

Bowers & Wilkins has taken the wraps off its all-new 700 Series loudspeakers. The line-up comprises eight models: three floorstanders, three standmount speakers and two dedicated centre channels for home cinema. All models are available in a choice of Gloss Black, Satin White and Rosenut finishes.

The 700s exploit technology first seen in the 800 Diamond range, such as the same Continuum midrange driver, as well as a bespoke version of the Aerofoil profile bass driver, which here uses paper rather than carbon fibre skins. There’s also a variation of the tweeter-on-top aluminium housing on the two flagship models.

New developments include a Carbon Braced tweeter, said to sweeten up the highs. This effectively sits between the Aluminium Double Dome used in the 600 Series and the Diamond Dome found in 800 Series Diamond. The front portion of the tweeter is 30 micron aluminium, stiffened with a coating of carbon. The second section is a 300-micron Carbon Ring, bonded to the inner face of the structure. The result is said to be exceptional stiffness and resistance to distortion.

Bowers & Wilkins has also announced a new subwoofer. The DB4S is a single-driver version of the dual-driver DB2D. It has a single 10in Carbon Aerofoil drive unit in a forward-firing configuration, with a 1000w power plant and a digital preamp section with Dynamic EQ, Room EQ and an App-based configuration system. Integrators can colour match it with the 700 Series.

Both the 705 S2 and 702 S2 floorstanders feature Solid Body Tweeter technology, derived from the the 800 Series Diamond. But instead of a hollow zinc housing, these tweeters-on-top are milled from a billet of aluminium.